Cancel Culture – 5 Things To Do If You Can No Longer Attend An Event Due To The Coronavirus

2020 will go down in history as the year that was canceled. The dark shadow of the coronavirus has cast its pale over most social gatherings, leaving overworked customer service operators and event organizers to deal with the massive fallout. Frustration is equally high among those seeking refunds, especially since the rules and regulations are often unclear. 

A word of warning: if you need your funds ASAP, it may be worth looking for low interest money loans because the refund route may take a while. With that said, let’s take a look at the best course of action for recouping your cash. 

1. Check your booking

Your most important first step is to arm yourself with info. Have a look at the event website and the company’s social media channels. You may well find that a refund strategy is already in place, and all you have to do is sit back and wait. Alternatively, your event may have been postponed, not canceled, meaning your ticket is still good for the revised dates. 

2. Understand the terms and conditions

If you’re unable to make it to an event that has been postponed or otherwise affected by the pandemic, the situation is a little murkier. In this case, you’ll need to dive into the terms and conditions of your booking to see what your options are. Many live music events are offering refunds for those who can prove they can’t make it due to the coronavirus. If this is the case with your event, it will be printed in the terms and conditions and all you’ll need to do is email them with the required documentation. 

3. Contact the event organizers

Some events have strict no-refund policies. However, this doesn’t mean you have to give up. Contact the organizers via email or social media and present your case. You’ll often find that they’ve created workarounds for people in such positions. For example, many festivals offer attendees the option to resell their tickets if they can no longer make it. Keep in mind that you must always find out how to go about this directly from the organizers. If you sell the tickets on the sly, you could end up selling someone a ticket they can’t use and this can get you in trouble. 

4. Be persistent (but understanding)

If you’re not getting a satisfactory response from the event organizers, keep at it until they’re forced to reply. Social media, webchat and email are likely to be your best avenues since there will be a high volume of calls from people in the same boat as you. Just don’t mix up persistence with rudeness. If you do get to speak to someone, be kind to them – they’ll be under the pump at the moment and the company is likely losing a fair chunk of money, so a bit of understanding will go a long way. 

5. Contact your bank or credit card provider

If the company is remaining silent on the refund situation and refusing to respond to your communications, it’s time to go above their heads. Figure out which card or account you paid for the tickets with and then contact the relevant provider. If it was a credit card, you’ll have better odds of getting your funds back than if you paid with a debit card. This approach isn’t guaranteed but it’s worth a try. 

Take a deep breath, stay calm, and work your way through the steps above. With any luck, you’ll have a resolution before the week is out.